Richmond upon Thames

Richmond upon Thames' population increased by about 14,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 190,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Richmond upon Thames increased by 8.5%, from about 172,000 to 187,000.

The addition of just under 15,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Richmond upon Thames was home to, on average, 23 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Richmond upon Thames

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Richmond upon Thames increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This area had a higher average age than London and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 5,500 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 20 and 29 years decreased by about 900.

About 16.0% of people in Richmond upon Thames are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Richmond upon Thames by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Richmond upon Thames that rented privately increased from 16.8% to 21.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in eight (12.6%) households lived in social housing, compared with 11.7% in 2001. The percentage of Richmond upon Thames households that owned their home decreased from 68.9% to 63.6%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 15.3% in 2001 to 25.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Richmond upon Thames increased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Richmond upon Thames, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health fell in Richmond upon Thames, but at a slower rate than all other London boroughs, except Barking and Dagenham and Newham.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across London saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 8.3% to 5.0%.

Across London, the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell from 8.3% to 5.0% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Hounslow (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Richmond upon Thames) fell from 8.1% to 4.7%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Richmond upon Thames decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Richmond upon Thames, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Richmond upon Thames

The percentage of Richmond upon Thames residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.7% to 6.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 1.8%, while the percentage of Richmond upon Thames residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91.6%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Richmond upon Thames

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Richmond upon Thames was among those who said they had no religion, rising 9.8 points.

In 2011, 31.1% of respondents in Richmond upon Thames gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 21.3% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.3% to 22.6%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Richmond upon Thames, 60.4% said they were Christian, compared with 71.8% in 2001. About 0.9% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 9.0% to 9.3%.

In Richmond upon Thames, 8.5% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.3% in 2001. In London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Richmond upon Thames increased by 8.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Richmond upon Thames by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households in Richmond upon Thames with children increased from 26.5% to 29.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62.7%) households had no children, compared with 66.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Richmond upon Thames with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.0% to 7.7%.

The proportion of households with children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 28.9% in 2001 to 30.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across London

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Richmond upon Thames

In 2011, 7.3% of Richmond upon Thames residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 4.6% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 13.2% to 18.5%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 86.0% of people in Richmond upon Thames said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 91.0% in 2001. About 3.6% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 2.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group) increased from 1.3% to 1.6%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Richmond upon Thames increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Richmond upon Thames by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Richmond upon Thames, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.1% to 10.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.6%) households had only one person, compared with 35.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Richmond upon Thames which comprised a married couple (with or without children) increased from 33.6% to 35.7%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.1% in 2001 to 8.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across London

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Richmond upon Thames stood out from other areas for relationships

The percentage of married people increased in Richmond upon Thames, while falling across London and England.

In Richmond upon Thames, the proportion went up from 46.7% in 2001 to 47.8% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 41.7% to 40.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Richmond upon Thames increased from 36.4% to 36.7%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner remained close to 10.2%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Employment in Richmond upon Thames

The percentage of employed people changed very little in Richmond upon Thames, while the proportion fell in nearby Hounslow.

In Richmond upon Thames, the proportion of employed people decreased from 55.6% in 2001 to 55.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Hounslow decreased from 55.5% to 52.8%.

Across London, the share of employed people decreased from 51.3% to 50.7%.

The rate of unemployment in Richmond upon Thames remained close to 3.0%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 12.4% to 14.9%.

The rate of employment was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employees working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 6.5% to 6.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 17 (6.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 5.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 4.5% in 2001 to 4.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.2% to 3.1%.

Long hour working was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Richmond upon Thames residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Richmond upon Thames remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Richmond upon Thames by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links